Tag: sacrifice

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Sacrifices and Offerings–Their Meaning for Today

An Acted Parable

When God gave the Hebrew people instructions for the Tabernacle and the various rites and ceremonies that would be done there, it was not just for the purpose of occupying their time and seeing how well they could follow complicated directions. There was deep meaning in each and every detail. Everything about the system was for the purpose of educating them regarding His Plan of Salvation. The sacrifices and offerings they brought were all a part of the Gospel acted out, a living parable.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Burnt Offering

(Lev. 1; 6:8-13; 7:8, 37; 8:18-21; 22:18-20)

Dedication / Consecration

A person might voluntarily bring an animal as a burnt offering when they wanted to give a gift totally to God with nothing kept back. The animal was killed and its entire body was burned as a symbol of the person consecrating themselves totally to God. It was a “sweet savor” to Him because He appreciated the motive behind it.

There was also a mandatory, daily, public burnt offering which was a symbol of the continual consecration of the entire nation to God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1, 2

God is looking for those who will give themselves totally to Him every day with no reservations.

Firstfruits

(Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Lev. 2:12; Num. 15:17-21; 18:12; Deu. 18:4; 26:1-11)

Giving the First and Best

Bringing an offering of Firstfruits symbolized giving God the first and best before taking any for personal use. The person acknowledged God’s blessing and expressed their gratitude for what He had provided.

And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you. Deuteronomy 26:10, 11

God is waiting for us to express our appreciation to Him for all the blessings He gives us. We are admonished to give our best to Him in addition to the tithe that already belongs to Him. He doesn’t want merely what is left over after we have used His resources for ourselves.

Peace Offering / Thank Offering

(Lev. 3; 7:11-21, 29-37; 19:5-8)

Friendship and Fellowship

When a person brought a Peace Offering or Thank Offering, part of it was burned on the Altar, certain parts were given to the Priest, and the remainder was eaten by the person and their family. This was like extending a personal invitation to God to have a meal together in friendship and fellowship, again for the purpose of expressing appreciation for what He had done.

And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will. It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: Leviticus 19:5, 6

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:15, 16

Sincere praise is a sacrifice that God appreciates. We need to recognize His gracious hand in our lives and give Him the praise He deserves for all the good that He does for us. He is generous in blessing us. Though we cannot benefit Him by giving anything back to Him, since He owns everything and has no needs, we can be a blessing to Him by our generous expressions of genuine thankfulness and praise.

Sin-offering

(Lev. 4; 6:24-30; 7:37)

Removal of Guilt

If a person erred and disobeyed God inadvertently, they were required to bring an animal as a sacrifice. They confessed their sin on the head of the animal, which symbolically transferred their guilt to the animal, then killed it as their legal substitute. Its blood was sprinkled on the Altar, its body was burned, and the sinner could walk away pardoned.

. . . and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 4:35

Trespass-offering

(Lev. 5:1 – 6:7; 7:1-7, 37; Num. 5:5-10; 18:9, 10)

Reparation for Damage Done

A trespass offering was presented to God when a person had unintentionally done something that caused monetary damage. He was required to restore the principal plus 20% to the damaged party to make reparation for the damages and then bring a trespass offering to God.

. . . he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. Leviticus 6:4, 5

We should appreciate the forgiving attitude God has, that He has laid our guilt on His Son, Jesus, as our Substitute, the Ultimate Sin-offering. Since He does not want us to die eternally because of our sin, He has granted us the opportunity to confess and repent and be pardoned.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

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Old Covenant / New Covenant

The question is often asked: What is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? What changed when Jesus died on the cross?

First, we must understand that there is an Eternal Covenant that is foundational to all others. Simply stated it is this: God says, “I will fulfill my promises to you if you do my will.” All of His people from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Jacob knew what God’s will was. They followed it and He blessed them. Then came the Israelite nation recently delivered from slavery. They had lost the knowledge of His will and needed reminders and careful discipline to help them live in His will. So God instituted the written Code of Conduct—the Torah—with everything spelled out carefully to reduce misunderstandings. Included in the Torah was the Ten Commandments as the basic standard of morality (Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5); the Statutes and Judgments, to explain and illustrate the Ten Commandments (given mostly in Exodus 21-23 and Deuteronomy, and interspersed throughout Leviticus and Numbers); and the Ceremonial / Sacrificial system as a remedy for the breaking of the Law—the symbols of the Gospel for that time (given primarily in Leviticus).

The Covenant with the Jews was originally something like this:

the Parties involved—God and Israel

the Promise—Jehovah would be their God; they would be His special people; they would receive an inheritance

the Terms or Conditions of the Covenant—obedience to God’s Laws

But there was a problem.

For finding fault with them (the people), he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Hebrews 8:8.

There was a fault, but it was not with the Terms of the Covenant. God’s Laws are perfect; His Statutes are right; His Commandments are pure; His Judgments are true and righteous altogether (Psalm 19:7-9). The fault was not with God. The fault was with the people involved. They kept breaking the Terms of the Covenant. They were not obedient. Their hearts were not in harmony with God. They continued to bring their sacrifices but God wanted something beyond that.

Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

What changed when the Messiah came?

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27

This prophecy predicts the Messiah’s coming, His ministry, and His death. It tells us that the sacrifices and oblations ceased. That was the change that occurred at the cross. The book of Hebrews explains more about the change as Paul describes several things that are better—better sacrifices, a better Priest, a better Sanctuary, better promises.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Hebrews 8:6

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Hebrews 9:11

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13, 14

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Hebrews 9:23

Here we can see that Jesus brought in what was “better”:

He is a better High Priest for many reasons, including the fact that He was sinless, ever-living, etc.

The better promises involve, on God’s part, a better inheritance (heavenly rather than earthly) and, on Jesus’ part, His commitment to fulfill God’s will perfectly (John 8:29; Hebrews 10:7, 9) contrasted with man’s disobedience.

He ministers in a greater Tabernacle in Heaven, made by God Himself.

His blood is far superior to any animal blood, able to purify more than the flesh, actually cleansing the conscience, the deepest source of sin by revealing to us the terrible effect sin has had on God (we killed Him) and His continued encompassing love for us.

His sacrifice is far superior because He is the Son of God (nothing could be greater or better) so He only needed to do it once for all.

Paul was writing to Jewish Christians explaining the changes that the cross introduced. What did he mean when he spoke of a “new covenant” or “new testament?” Why was a new one needed? Because the old established only a temporary remedy for sin and pointed forward to the true, complete remedy—Jesus Christ. The Jews viewed the remedy that they had been given as all that was needed, rather then looking, by faith, through the sacrifices to the One they foreshadowed—Jesus, the Messiah. So they went on breaking God’s Laws and bringing sacrifices perpetually, not stopping to realize that they needed a change of heart to truly follow God’s will in spirit rather than merely in letter.

Jesus came to take humanity’s place in the Covenant as our Substitute. The New Covenant is between God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son, who completely fulfills all the Conditions of the Covenant for us and will receive all the Kingdom Promises. He became our surety, our guarantee, that all the Terms would be fulfilled. When we have Jesus living in our hearts, we become heirs to the Kingdom with Him. He also brings about a change in our character by instilling God’s Laws in our hearts and minds through the power of His Spirit so that we will be in harmony with God and can also fulfill the Terms of the Covenant.

The terms of the “old covenant” were, Obey and live: “If a man do, he shall even live in them” (Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5); but “cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.” Deuteronomy 27:26. The “new covenant” was established upon “better promises”–the promise of forgiveness of sins and of the grace of God to renew the heart and bring it into harmony with the principles of God’s law. “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. . . . I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33, 34. (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 372)

So the change at the Cross was to replace erring humans with the perfect One—Jesus—and to replace the Sacrifices, Priests, and earthly Tabernacle system with Jesus, the BETTER Sacrifice and High Priest in the Heavenly Temple. He is the One who was always the true fulfillment of that system. The Hebrews had come to regard the Sacrifices as an end in themselves, but it was only by faith that true forgiveness and atonement were received. Salvation has always been by faith, as we know from Hebrews 11. It was by faith that Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

What changed at the cross was the remedy for breaking the Law, not the Law itself. All the Laws are still intact—the Ten Commandments and the other Laws given through Moses. Nothing was changed except what we are specifically told was changed. The prophecy of Daniel 9 and the book of Hebrews tell us what was changed.

To put it simply: The difference between the Old and New Covenants is Jesus, the True Remedy for the sins of man. What was foreshadowed in the Tabernacle system became a reality.

Did the Terms of the Covenant change? No! There was never a problem with the Terms. They are still obedience and cooperation with God.

Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old. The conditions are, and ever have been, based on perfect obedience. (Ellen White, Letter 216, 1906)

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Romans 1:5

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:2

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

There are those who say that the Terms of the Covenant have changed, that God’s Laws are not part of it anymore, that everything is by Grace, meaning that God is more lenient now, not as strict as He was before. But where does the Bible say that? Jesus said He didn’t come to change any of God’s Laws (Matthew 5:17-19) and we are not given permission to change anything.

Here is a principle we must follow: God does not change. (Malachi 3:6) What He establishes does not change unless He Himself changes it. If the Bible doesn’t tell us that He changed something, then it remains.

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Deuteronomy 12:32

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18, 19

The Laws of God have not been changed. Not the Ten Commandments nor the specifications given in the Statutes and Judgments. The only thing that changed was the remedy for sin. The shadows were replaced by Jesus, the fulfillment and true Remedy.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Hebrews 8:10, 11

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The Serpent and the Saviour

The Story: The children of Israel were traveling through the wilderness and they rebelled against God, again.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.  Numbers 21:6

What did God tell Moses to do?

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.   Numbers 21:8

What is the Serpent?

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.   Revelation 12:9

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Revelation 20:2

The Serpent is a symbol of Satan, sin, and all that is connected with it. But why did Moses put the Fiery Serpent on the pole? And why could the people be healed by looking at it?

Let’s read what Jesus said to Nicodemus concerning this.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:14-16

As the snake was lifted up on the pole in the wilderness, so Jesus was to be lifted up upon the cross. Why?

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

This is strange symbolism indeed! How can Jesus be represented under the symbolism of a serpent?

God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;  . . . For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  2 Corinthians 5:19, 21

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  Romans 8:3

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  Galatians 3:13

Amazing revelation! Jesus was made sin for us! He came in the likeness of sinful flesh and took upon Himself the curse, “being made a curse for us.”

There is more. …

And the LORD said unto him (Moses), What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:  Exodus 4:2-4

Who is the “Rod”?

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  Jeremiah 11:1-3

If you read the entire chapter of Jeremiah 11 it is clear that the “Rod out of the stem of Jesse” is Jesus, the Messiah.

What happened when Moses threw the rod down on the earth?

And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent . . .  Exodus 4:3

What happened to Jesus when He came down to this earth?

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.  2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus, the perfect Son of God came to this earth and became sin for us that He might destroy Him that had the power of sin – the devil, “that old serpent.”

What happened when Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh?

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.  Exodus 7:10-12

What did Jesus do?

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  Hebrews 2:14

And what happened with the rod of Aaron? It became a serpent when it was cast to the earth, and it ate up and destroyed the other serpents. Then it became a rod again when Aaron took it by the tail.

Jesus, the Rod, came to this earth to become sin, that He might destroy sin (the other serpents). Then He ascended back to Heaven to once again become the “Rod.” He is now seated at the right hand of God.

What a wonderful thought! What an amazing sacrifice! There is nothing in the universe that God hates so much as sin, and yet Jesus consented to take upon Himself that hated sin that He might thereby save those who had come under the power of sin. Now He says,

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.   Revelation 1:18

As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so the Son of God was lifted up on the cross, that sinners from the ends of the earth might look and live. Multitudes are still suffering from the deadly sting of that old serpent, the devil. The effects of sin can be removed only by the provision which God has made. Here, alone, hope and salvation can be found. As the Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the brazen serpent, so sinners can look to Christ and live. Unlike that inert and lifeless symbol, Christ has power and virtue in himself, to heal the suffering, repenting, bleeding sinner.   Signs of the Times, 10-28-1880

Nothing less than a practical acceptance and application of divine truth opens the kingdom of God to man. Only a pure and lowly heart, obedient and loving, firm in the faith and service of the Most High, can enter there. Jesus also declares that as “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The serpent in the wilderness was lifted up on a pole before the people, that all who had been stung unto death by the fiery serpent, might look upon this brazen serpent, a symbol of Christ, and be instantly healed. But they must look in faith, or it would be of no avail. Just so must men look upon the Son of man as their Saviour unto eternal life. Man had separated himself from God by sin. Christ brought his divinity to earth, veiled by humanity, in order to rescue man from his lost condition. Human nature is vile, and man’s character must be changed before it can harmonize with the pure and holy in God’s immortal kingdom. This transformation is the new birth. Signs of the Times 11-15-1883

So how does Christ’s sacrifice affect us?

These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Romans 8:34

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  Romans 8:37

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  1 John 5:4, 5

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  Revelation 12:11

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Revelation 15:2, 3

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.  Romans 16:20